Foxface timidity?

clsbgirl · Nov 13, 2014

Hey guys I just added a Foxface rabbitfish about a week ago, he was stressed out and deathly afraid of my clownfish. The fear of the clowns has gone but still seems to be scared of everything, even though nothing else in the tank is chasing him, or a predator (aforementioned 2 ocellaris clowns, 2 banggai cardinals, 2 green chromis, and a teeny tiny royal gramma). I was wondering if my water flow might be stressing him out, I've been researching and haven't seen anything about this, but my wavemaker switches from low speed to high speed and I noticed when it switches sometimes he'll hide behind some live rock and change color. So did I just get a scaredy-cat or is my wavemaker bothering him?

nvMarco · Nov 13, 2014

How big is this Foxface? Sounds like it's still a baby. Mine is not easily intimidated and certainly knows how to use his defensive system to his advantage.
I would say to just give it time. It is just taking its time to get acclimated.

heathd.hd · Nov 13, 2014

My foxface is pretty timid also. Idk. Might just be them in general.

Humblefish · Nov 13, 2014

My foxface lo is very timid, hides a lot. Kind of a big sissy fish. But you won't find a finer algae grazer. :angel:

SABOB · Nov 13, 2014

My Foxfaces have always been skittish for a few weeks.....the get braver as time goes on

clsbgirl · Nov 14, 2014

Thanks for the info, I'm a newbie to salt, was keeping African Cichlids before this so I know nothing about timid fish, lol.

fungia_fiend · Nov 14, 2014

Mine is the bully of the tank, but I've had other foxfaces over the years that were very passive. I think this guy is an outlier. They're usually pretty docile.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 14, 2014

FWIW, I have a One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus) and it isn't any more timid than my other fish.

In fact, when I'm feeding my Chelmon marginalis (a type of copperband butterfly) by pipette, the foxface is usually pushing his way in to grab the food and I have to try to avoid him or push him away.

heathd.hd · Nov 14, 2014

Mine will eat like that also randy my issue is the thing doesn't show off his bright yellows very often. Mostly he hangs out with Brown's and darker colors on. Idk.

eatbreakfast · Nov 14, 2014

I have found foxfaces to be a very skittish and spastic fish. Whenever I do clean algae or place corals in a tank with a foxface, they are always panicking and freaking out.

dbl · Nov 14, 2014

My Foxfaces are the largest two fish in my system, yet they are the biggest babies! The slightest thing scares them, they camouflage themselves, and hide out at base of rocks. The only time they show any assertive behavior is at feeding time, where apparently they think they're pigs!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 14, 2014

heathd.hd said:
Mine will eat like that also randy my issue is the thing doesn't show off his bright yellows very often. Mostly he hangs out with Brown's and darker colors on. Idk.

Well, mine isn't a bright yellow either. Fairly brown, actually. Maybe just its natural way.

3dees · Nov 14, 2014

It depends on what other fish are in the tank. my one spot is the biggest fish in my tank and he rules. when I put the nori clip in all the other fish wait till he gets his fill. he is also the first to hide when I do a wc.

Humblefish · Nov 14, 2014

The above posts just goes to show ya, fish are like people! You can't really stereotype or cast them all into one mold... because there are always going to be exceptions to the norm.

Mike&Terry · Nov 14, 2014

Humblefish said:
The above posts just goes to show ya, fish are like people! You can't really stereotype or cast them all into one mold... because there are always going to be exceptions to the norm.

Hahah... so very true!

David Engh · Mar 30, 2016

So a person shouldn't get to alarmed with them sitting in the corner with there fins fanned an looking all stressed with there brown spots while getting to know the tank/tankmates then?

eatbreakfast · Mar 30, 2016

David Engh said:
So a person shouldn't get to alarmed with them sitting in the corner with there fins fanned an looking all stressed with there brown spots while getting to know the tank/tankmates then?

That's pretty normal when new to a tank.

KorL · Mar 30, 2016

Initially had a decent size 5" one spot foxface that did ok with many tangs and other fish in the tank. It would flare it's fins whenever tangs would try to punk him. After couple weeks, tangs left him alone.

Ended up replacing with a smaller one, that fish was super shy of me and the other fish. First month it would hide in the rock work whenever I walked by. If out in the open, was swimming up against side panel looking for a way out. Now is just fine

David Engh · Mar 30, 2016

Good to know. Was getting scared that I would have to get rid of him. Just got him yesterday but was not to sure when my yellow and powder brown tangs where so aggressive towards him. They are just swimming by now but he still changes color an throws up his spikes.